Armand de Brignac

Since November 2014, Armand de Brignac has been the Champagne brand of rapper and music producer JAY-Z. The five non-vintage cuvées, which are sold in opaque metallic bottles and at absolutely crazy prices, are produced by father and son Jean-Jacques and Alexandre Cattier from Champagne Cattier who started releasing de Brignac in 2006. The fruit—Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay—comes from vineyards owned by the Cattier family and from growers in selected villages across the region. For Armand de Brignac, colloquially known as "Ace of Spades," only the tête de cuvée of the press is used, so the very finest part. Each cuvée assembles three vintages and is dosed with matured wines aged in oak barrels. Aged for several years on the second lees, the wines are intense, powerful, well-structured and of excellent quality. The brand's first bottling, Armand de Brignac Brut Gold, is still the finest cuvée due to its richness and ripeness. Stephan Reinhardt, ROBERT PARKER